Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Former No. 3 CIA official indicted

2/13/2007USA TODAY

SAN DIEGO — Federal prosecutors have indicted the former No. 3 official at the CIA, accusing him of conspiring to steer lucrative contracts to companies run by a longtime friend who is accused of bribing a congressman.

Kyle "Dusty" Foggo is indicted in a corruption probe that sent former Republican congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham to federal prison. Foggo's indictment Tuesday by a federal grand jury in San Diego says Foggo took luxury vacations, expensive meals and other perks from his friend, Brent Wilkes.

Wilkes, the head of a web of San Diego-based government contracting firms, is accused of bribing Foggo to get contracts, including one to supply bottled water to CIA operatives. Wilkes is charged in a separate indictment of bribing Cunningham with more than $700,000 in cash, travel, meals and prostitute services.

Cunningham is serving an eight-year prison term after pleading guilty in 2005 to taking more than $2.4 million from Wilkes and businessman Mitchell Wade in exchange for steering Pentagon and intelligence contracts to their companies. Wade has pleaded guilty and remains free while cooperating in the ongoing investigation.

Wilkes' lawyer, Mark Geragos, said all the charges were "demonstrably false" but refused to give specifics. Geragos said Wilkes plans to plead not guilty in a court appearance today.More...